On the eve of his election to the state house, Joseph Brennan sits with his wife Jane as they watch returns come in for 133rd district race at his home in Fountain Hill on Tuesday May 16, 2006.

On the eve of his election to the state house, Joseph Brennan sits with his wife Jane as they watch returns come in for 133rd district race at his home in Fountain Hill on Tuesday May 16, 2006. (Michael Kubel / MORNING CALL FILE PHOTO)

Pamela Lehman, OF THE MORNING CALL

Bethlehem police said several people saw state Rep. Joe Brennan fall and hit his head Wednesday evening just before his drunken driving arrest.

A report states that around 7:30 p.m., Brennan, 47, was getting out of his car parked at an E. Broad Street convenience store when he fell and hit his head.

"He got up with the aid of some bystanders and got into his car and drove away," reads a statement from Bethlehem police.

A citizen was so concerned about Brennan's condition, the unidentified person followed Brennan and called 911, police said. Brennan parked his car in a lot near his south Bethlehem office.

When police arrived, Brennan was taken to St. Luke's Hospital-Fountain Hill, where he submitted to a blood-alcohol test, police said.

Police did not release Brennan's blood-alcohol level, but he is charged with the highest level of drunken driving. The charge means the blood-alcohol content registers above 0.16 percent, twice the legal limit to drive.

Bethlehem police said the final charge is pending Brennan's blood-alcohol content and said it may be a week until the test results are complete.

Police said while Brennan had a "visible" injury to his head, they were unsure how seriously he was hurt.

On Thursday, Brennan issued a statement acknowledging "a long and personal struggle with alcohol" and saying he "deeply regretted" his actions.

Brennan, a Democrat who lives in Fountain Hill, has represented the 133rd District since 2007. The district covers parts of Lehigh and Northampton counties.

He is a former Northampton County councilman.

In November, Brennan pleaded guilty to careless driving for an accident near his south Bethlehem office that sent two people to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries. While waiting for police to arrive at the accident, he went into a bar and ordered a sandwich and beer.

Lower Saucon Township police in 2003 charged Brennan with stealing $2 worth of meat from a grocery and said he tried to steal $24.99 worth of cigarettes and women's razors. His attorney had said the charges only reflected the $2 worth of meat.

A district judge dismissed the charges, saying they were too vague. But they led Brennan to suspend his campaign for Bethlehem City Council.